Key holder



H. E. MOORE Oct. 28, 1930.

KEY HOLDER Original Filed Dec.

11v VENTOR. m

ll/ BY ATTO Y.

Patented Oct. 28 1930 PATENT OFFICE HAL E. MOORE, OF BERKELEY,CALIFORNIA- KEY HOLDER Application filed December 5, 1928, Serial No.323,945. Renewed September 15, 1930.

My invention has for its object a casing for holding in assembledrelation a plurality of keys collapsed within said casing and adapted tobe carried in the pocket.

A further object is a device of the character described which may beconveniently gripped in the hand and which is adapted to be employed asa lever to assist in the turning of keys.

Other objects will appear from the drawing and specification whichfollow.

These objects I accomplish by employing a body portion having a hingedcover, a'spmdle and bushing support at one end across the extended sidesrising from the body portion and upon which the keys are mounted,special spring means by which the keys are retained in a selectedposition within the body portion and preferably stiffening means for 2the sides to resist the twisting movement developed by the keys when thecasing is employed as a handle to turn the key.

The spindle is also provided with special locking and engaging means toresist distortion of the sides and to facilitate the introduction orremoval of different keys.

By referring to the accompanying drawing. my invention will be madeclear.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a full size perspective view of my key holdershowing two keys engaged thereon and with the cover closed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 2 on the.

line III-III thereof.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the pin for holding the keys locked in place.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the locking pin and key bushings intheir locked or engaged position, and showing an alternateconstructionfrom that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 with the pin in extended position. v

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view of one of the side members.

Throughout the figures similar numerals refer to identical parts.

A body member is shown having a base portion 1 and upturned sides 2 and3.

At 4 is a locking pin or spindle threaded at 5 into the bushing 6 fixedto the side 3.

The bushing through which the spindle passes is shown at 7 fixed to theside 2.

The spindle 4 is provided with a head 8 having a recess on the undersideshown at 9, and which recess when the spindle 4 is in threadedengagement at 5 with the bushing 6, engages the projection 10 on theside 2, locking the spindle 4 in place.

A cover member 11 is provided and is conventionally hinged at 12 and maybe recessed and have fixed in said recess leatherette or other suitablecovering material as indicated at 13. The cover is bent over forming twoflanges at 14, 15, respectively, and these sides are adapted tofrictionally engage with the sides 2 and 3 respectively, holding thecover in place as shown in Fig. 2 until pressure is exerted to raise thecover from the closed position of Fig. 2 to the open position shown bythe dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Fixed to the bottom 1, by the pin 16 is the double leaf spring 17, 18

The other ends of the leaves are recessed as shown at 19 in Fig. 1 andembracing the bushings 5, 7.

A conventional key is shown at 20, in extended position and other keysin collapsed position within the case are indicated at 21.

The keys are held against the sides 2 and 3 by the spring leaves 17 18.

It will now be seen that upon opening the cover 11, any key may befolded out from the collapsed to the extended position and may readilybe turned in its lock by twisting with the hand the bodyportion of thedevice, and that at such times the resistance of the side 2 or 3depending upon the position of the key and direction of turning supportsthe sides against the turning stresses. This support is contributed bythe spindle 4 locking the sides 2 and 3 together as best shown in Figs.2 and 5.

Also the spindle 4 is at all times held in place through the engagementof the lock means 9 and 10, so that it will not become accidentlydis-engaged during use, and that by forcing the head 6 overcoming thelocking means 9 and 10 and disengaging the threads at 5 enables thespindle 4 to be removed and keys replaced or removed from the device.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6 showing an alternateconstruction the spindle locking the sides 2, 3 together is shown havinga reduced portion at 30 an enlarged portion at 31 and threadedengagement at 32 binding together the bushings 33 and 34 respectivelylixed to the sides 2 and 3, and preferabl forming when in lockedposition of Fig. 5. a continuous bushing surface.

\Vhen the head 8 is turned to disengage the threads at 32. overcomingthe locking means 9, 10, the spindle may be withdrawn v into theposition 6 at which time the enlarged portion 31 coming against thereduced diameter 35 of the bushing 33 prevents the entire withdrawal ofthe spindle so that it is not misplaced or lost.

Keys are then inserted or withdrawn through the opening 36 and thespindle returned and looked as shown in Fig. 5.

The bushing ends are preferably adapted to telescopically engage asshown at 37, 38 respectively, thereby providing a locking and stiffeningmeans for the engaged bushings when any of the keys which may bethreaded thereon are employed by twisting the device as a holder toforce the key operation.

Other variations may be employed without departing from my invention andI desire to be understood as covering all such.

I claim:

1. A key holder comprising a casing of thin metal adapted to hold keyscollapsed therein, comprising a cover hinged to a body member, saidmember comprising a base portion and a pair of parallel sides upturnedtherefrom and ex-tem'ling beyond said base, a spindle through at leastone of the extended sides and adapted to carry a plurality of keystherebetween, said spindle provided with a finger engaging head at oneend adapted to contact with the oilter portion of one of said extensionsand lock means between said head and the last named extension and theother end of said spindle having threaded engagement with the other ofsaid extensions whereby the extensions are restrained against distortionwhen the easing is employed as a handle to twist an extended key, and adouble leaf spring fixed to said base portion and each leaf sliding oversaid spindle at its free end and adapted to force keys on said spindleright and left respectively and against the respective extensions.

2. A key holder comprising a casing of thin metal adapted to hold keyscollapsed therein,co'mprising a cover hinged to a body member, saidmember comprising a base portion and a pair of parallel sides upturnedtherefrom and extending beyond said base,

a spindle through at least one of the extended sides and adapted tocarry a plurality of keys therebetween, said spindle provided with afinger engaging head at one end adapted to contact with the outerportion of one of said extensions and lock means between said head andthe last named'extension, said extensions each provided with a bushingextending inwardly, said spindle passing freely through the proximatebushing and engaging the remote bushing and its extension to restrainthe extensions against spreading when the casing is employed as a handleto twist an extended key, and a double leaf spring fixed to said baseportion and having the outer end of each leaf adapted to force keys onsaid bushings to the right and left respectively and against saidrespective extensions.

HAL E. MOORE.

